Voices
by Val Paradise, Michael Fuller, Erin Cicalo, Eric Martin, Elsa Rodriguez
When we posed our questions to members of the Morse and O'Farrell communities, the following patterns seemed to emerge:
1. WHAT HAVE YOU LIKED ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES IN SCHOOL (Go to data)
Common themes in the answers to this question were learning and positive relationships with others in the school environment. The students emphasized learning more than other groups, mentioning areas of interest such as learning about people, science, and even how to deal with confrontations. Parents said that they liked interactive social activities which they found fun and engaging. One respondent underscored this by stating that he/she enjoyed the classes of the teachers who displayed enthusiasm for their subject matter. Staff/community member answers mentioned the same types of things
2. WHAT HAVE YOU DISLIKED ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES IN SCHOOL (Go to Data)
Something having to do with poor relationships was cited by nearly all respondents. Specific problems mentioned were bad attitudes of students and poor quality of teachers. Students seemed to dislike many of the social issues in school. They did not dislike homework or class work, as is often thought. Instead, they mentioned things such as difficulty in making friends, dislike of uniforms, bad attitudes and teachers not "being there" for them. Parents were critical of teacher attitudes and teaching techniques. Most respondents did not like stern teachers who made them do boring, uninteresting, repetitive tasks. Also, teachers who lacked the ability to engage students and who were condescending were not appreciated by family and community members. Staff members specifically mentioned unfriendly teachers, lack of parent support, and lack of relevance as well as and the need for more respect from students.
3. WHAT KIND OF SCHOOL DO YOU THINK YOUR FAMILY WANTS FOR YOU? WHY
Although students were vague about their answers to this question, they seemed to indicate that they believed their parents want them to go to schools that will prepare them for later success in college and in life. Students feel their parents want them to attend a school that is free of crime and has strict rules.
4. WHAT KIND OF SCHOOL DO YOU THINK TEACHERS WANT FOR YOU? WHY? (Go to Data)
Students believe that teachers want the best for them, which is that they should learn. One student however, expressed a concern that teachers "...seem like they want to take over, but I know that they are concerned about us." We interpreted this to mean that even though teachers may seem a little domineering at times, they really do care about student success.
5. WHAT KINDS OF SCHOOLS DO YOU THINK TEACHERS WANT FOR STUDENTS (Go to Data)
Respondents gave fairly conventional answers to this question, mentioning things like safety and following the rules. Only one respondent mentioned learning, and one other was highly critical of teachers in general, saying about teachers that "They go into the profession because of the time off."
6. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR NEW TEACHERS COMING INTO THE PROFESSION
Realism was emphasized throughout the responses, with one parent describing what happens in school as "babysitting." Respondents seemed to stress the need for teachers to implement new strategies with broader, more relevant curriculum. One parent mentioned the need to "Give students truth, give points from all perspectives. We interpreted this as saying teachers should addresses contemporary issues such as the growing trend toward multiculturalism. One respondent recommended that teachers be willing to take more risk to find out what works with students of different learning styles and abilities.
7. WHAT KINDS OF SCHOOL DO YOU THINK PARENTS/COMMUNITY MEMBERS WANT FOR STUDENTS? Go to Data
Faculty and staff expressed high expectations for the kinds of schools they think parents and community members want for their children. Discipline was mentioned by only one of those polled, with the rest of the answers focusing on excellence in the areas of teaching, curriculum, and motivation for success.
8. WHAT KIND OF SCHOOLS DO YOU THINK STUDENTS WANT FOR THEMSELVES (Go to Data)
The answers to this question seemed fairly conventional, with respondents asking for smaller class sizes more personal attention, and a more realistic curriculum. Staff for the most part give students credit for wanting to learn new things. One faculty member proposed that students would want a "school that is safe, fun, and interesting."
9. IF YOU COULD DESIGN THE PERFECT SCHOOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE? (Go to Data)
Some students survey thought the ideal school would be similar to their own, with only a few changes, such as no uniforms and bigger facilities. Other students envisioned a school that would engage all students, regardless of race, intelligence, or physical abilities. Students mentioned a host of characteristics of their "perfect school," including positive relationships between teachers and students, attractive facilities, and a strong school-to-career orientation. Community members emphasized flexibility and relevance, saying that teachers should focus on goals that are tangible and marketable. They called for teachers to be more creative and engaging. Staff members were in agreement, but seemed even more idealistic than the other groups, with one teacher calling for a utopian-sounding school complete with wind chimes and resident artists.